Posted September 19, 2018
Sorry to double-post, but given the length of the posts, I thought it better to keep them separate rather than one LONG read
Shadowrun Returns (Deluxe Steam version).
Again, not usually "my cup of tea", but surprised to find that I liked it a lot. The version played, as stated was the steam deluxe version which included the soundtrack. I do believe this tipped the scales to its favour; I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much without that cool music (it made up for the lack of voice-acting).
Nice graphics. smooth game-play and few puzzles to frustrate (except perhaps the key-card situation mid-game which can muddle which method you wish to infiltrate the cult building). Controls were a little clumsy, and often resulted in me moving characters in combat by accident (because I'm used not used to turn-based games of this type).
A little disappointed the story-line ended so quickly. Combat is easy for those who chose the easier path (weapon expertise), and took the advice to heart not to spend XP broadly across all skill sets. Hacker levels were so few they seemed out of place, and could have been made more integral, forcing the player to diversify their mercenary groups (and inevitably making combat harder in the real world).
4 out of 5.
12 Is Better Than 6 (played, but not owned at the time)
Colour/art direction a nice touch. Game-play frustrating in places, but enough fun to keep you coming back to try again. Story-line a little dry, and could have benefited from voice-acting.
Ending was sudden and a disappointment. It was so abrupt that I actually said WTF out aloud, rather than just thinking it. It had the feeling that someone couldn't think of an ending or a script-writer quit before the story was finished. 3 out of 5.
Satellite Reign
Graphically quite nice, but resource-hungry, with some areas FPS dropping frustratingly low on my (albeit older) mid-range laptop. Game-play fun, but finding a better clone resulting in grinding too long outside of missions.
AI a little buggy with NPCs straying into restricted areas seemingly at random and causing chaos. AI of NPCs get predictable and game-play became a chore as you fell into predicable patterns to infiltrate areas.
Missions became repetitive, with little memorable features to keep you grinning. Music fitting to the atmosphere, but not particularly memorable.
3.5 out of 5.
Shadowrun Returns (Deluxe Steam version).
Again, not usually "my cup of tea", but surprised to find that I liked it a lot. The version played, as stated was the steam deluxe version which included the soundtrack. I do believe this tipped the scales to its favour; I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much without that cool music (it made up for the lack of voice-acting).
Nice graphics. smooth game-play and few puzzles to frustrate (except perhaps the key-card situation mid-game which can muddle which method you wish to infiltrate the cult building). Controls were a little clumsy, and often resulted in me moving characters in combat by accident (because I'm used not used to turn-based games of this type).
A little disappointed the story-line ended so quickly. Combat is easy for those who chose the easier path (weapon expertise), and took the advice to heart not to spend XP broadly across all skill sets. Hacker levels were so few they seemed out of place, and could have been made more integral, forcing the player to diversify their mercenary groups (and inevitably making combat harder in the real world).
4 out of 5.
12 Is Better Than 6 (played, but not owned at the time)
Colour/art direction a nice touch. Game-play frustrating in places, but enough fun to keep you coming back to try again. Story-line a little dry, and could have benefited from voice-acting.
Ending was sudden and a disappointment. It was so abrupt that I actually said WTF out aloud, rather than just thinking it. It had the feeling that someone couldn't think of an ending or a script-writer quit before the story was finished. 3 out of 5.
Satellite Reign
Graphically quite nice, but resource-hungry, with some areas FPS dropping frustratingly low on my (albeit older) mid-range laptop. Game-play fun, but finding a better clone resulting in grinding too long outside of missions.
AI a little buggy with NPCs straying into restricted areas seemingly at random and causing chaos. AI of NPCs get predictable and game-play became a chore as you fell into predicable patterns to infiltrate areas.
Missions became repetitive, with little memorable features to keep you grinning. Music fitting to the atmosphere, but not particularly memorable.
3.5 out of 5.
Post edited September 24, 2018 by Braggadar